Geared magnetic clutch and motor



March 6a E. MILLER ETAL G'ARED MAGNETIC QLUTCH AND MOTOR Filed Jan. 12s, 1943 "5 TEETH 7f- TEE TH lrrozdaxs.

Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEARED MAGNETIC CLUTCH AND MOTOR Edward G. Miller and Ralph E. Engberg,

Clayton, Mo.

Application January 18, 1943, Serial No. 472,748

6 Claims. (Cl. 172-239)v The present invention is directed to a geared magnetic clutch and motor. A broad purpose of the invention is to provide 4a magnetic clutch in combination with a motor'or power means, and a gear reduction to provide positive engagement without slippage when the clutch is energized.

A specic object Vof the invention is to provide a magnetic clutch, so combined with a gear reduction as to provide transmission of the forces of rotation through the gearing, thus eliminating the necessity of depending upon the magnetic attraction for providing the forced transmission.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this type providing a high speed reduction permitting the use of a high speed motor for greater efficiency in obtaining high torque output.

A further object is to provide in this combination a planetary gear mechanism without a sun gear required between the pinions and internal gears, and Without the conventional arm for supporting the planetary gears.

A further object is to provide a clutch and gear mechanism of this type by which the magnetic clutch may readily obtain engagement of the gears at all times.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this type wherein the clutch is energized to mesh the gears at the same time the motor is energized to start rotation of the driving shaft,'thus insuring that ready meshing of the gears can be obtained. More speciiically, an object is to provide a clutch engaging mechanism to mesh gears and operate a driven shaft from a drive shaft, with the engagement effected with a relatively low speed gear, operating fast enough to prevent binding of the gears, but slow enough to avoid clashing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an external elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a diametrical section through the clutch and gear mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the upper gear connections;

Fig. 4is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the lower gear connections; and

` Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of a desirable arrangement for the mechanism.

The mechanism is here shown as including a lower clutch section II), a motor section II, and a cap section I2.

The motor section includes an electric motor that is adapted to rotate a drive shaft I3. Through the gear mechanism, to be described, the drive shaft rotates a driven shaft I4 at a much reduced speed;v

The driving means includes a circular eccentric I5 secured by a set screw I6 to the drive shaft. The eccentric I5 is of an axial length to receive two superposed pinions that may be welded together. The upper of these pinions is `shown at II, and the lower at I8.

The upper pinion I'I meshes with a ring gear 20, secured by screws ZI to the end plate of the housing I0. The ring gear 2li is concentric with the motor shaft, but the pinion gear II is eccentric to the motor shaft, being concentric with the circle of the cam i5.

The lpinion I8 is adapted to mesh with a ring gear 22 that is secured to a disc 23 of magnetic material. The disc 23 is an integral part of a hollow circular enlarged portion 24 on the driven shaft I4. Thus, rotation of the ring gear 22 will cause rotation of the driven shaft.

The disc 23 extends out adjacent a magnetic coil 25, that is secured in the extension of the housing I0, so that the disc will be within the field of the magnetic coil 25.

Quill rollers 21 provide a bearing. These quills are mounted in a bearing race 28 that is vertically slidable in an enlargement 29 of the drive shaft opening. As will be seen, this enlargement 29 is of suiiicient length to permit the bearings to slide with the driven shaft a sufcient distance to disengage the ring gear 22 from its pinion I8.

The enlargement 24 of the driven shaft is hollow and receives a spring 3|. Quills 32 in turn operate in a race 33, engaging between the bottom of the eccentric and the spring 3l so that the force of the spring tends to displace the driven shaft I4 and its integral disc 23 downwardly. This action will disengage the ring gear 22 from its pinion I8. The quills 32 provide a bearing between the motor shaft I3 and the driven shaft I4.

To illustrate one connection for this mechanism, Fig. 5 shows a wiring diagram in which the motor is shown at 35. This motor has a forward winding 36 and a reverse winding 3l. The clutch coil 25 is put in series with the motor, to be energized when either motor winding is in circuit. A selector switch 38 is provided to select one or the other of the two motor windings and to connect the same with the source of power 39. Grounding of one end of the coil 25 and of one end of the battery provides for completing the circuit.

Operation For illustrative purposes, the pinion I'I is shown as having 24 teeth, the ring gear 20 `as having 25 teeth, the pinion I8 as having 25 teeth, and the ring gear 22 as having 26 teeth. These particu' Fig. 5, it will simultaneously supply energy to.

the motor winding 31, the armature 35 of the motor and to the coil 25. Thiswill have/brought.

about the condition shown in Fig. 2.

In this condition, the coil 25wi1lhave at'.- tracted the disc 23 to lift the ring gear 22 into motor will be rotating prior to the time the magnetic force can bring the disc 23 high enough to begin engagement of the ring gear 22 with its pinion I8. While this speed is slow, it is suiilcient to insure meshing of the ring gear 22 with the pinion I8 without blockage and Without clashing of the gears.

The ratio of reduction is a matter of choice. Also, while it is desirable in many cases to have the motor positively driven in bothdrections, in other cases, the drive may be in la single direction. Such might be the -case in connection with the valve that is positively opened or closed by al spring.; and' motor-driven in the other direction. In this case, each time the motor opens the` valve, means would be provided to hold it open. Thereafter, when conditions -weresatsmesh with the pinion I8. The; motor shaft I3.'

will be rotating to rotate the circular eccentric I5, thereby to rotate both pinions I'I and IB The-ring;gear 2.0;isfxed. Consequently, each rotation oifthe circular eccentric I-5of the-motor shaft; l3rolls1 the pinion I'If about' the ring, gear 20;. Since,- the ring gear hasy 25 teeth and. the pinion 24; teeth,.the:net result ofI a.- single revolution of the eccentric is ai displacement of the pinion'. 1/4 of.A ay revolution in, theY direction of thefarrow Bi Thisnet result of 1/24.. of, a revolution of the pinion in. the direction of they arrow B.oom.prsesV onev full revolution: of.` the. eccentric in'zthat-,direction plus an extraV 1&5 revolution.

Since the two pinions. I'I andl I8 are securedtogether, the. pinion I8 will. correspondingly make one. and 1/24. revolutions` in` the; direction oi the arrow B'. for each rotation ofy the motor shaft. IfY it' be-. assumed that the eccentric: l5 is held still. while the pinion I8 makes. thisone andv l/gir revolutions in the' direction ofthe arrow B,.the driven ring gear 22 would likewise make the same num-ber or revolutions.

For each revolution of the pinion I8l about its own axis, and assuming the Ieccentric held still,

the: ring gear 22A makes. 2%@ of a revolution. Consequently,.25/24 of a revolution or: thepinion I8l will producef625/62g of ai revolution of the ring gear' 22'` in. the; direction of the arrow B under these conditions.

However, while the pinionl I8 is.rotated.by itsy attachmentto the pinion I'I, it is also rotated by the.- eccentric, I5. If it be assumed` that the pinion. I8 is fixed to4 the eccentric, such rotation by thev eccentric. would, produce one revolution of the pinion. I8; in theclirectiony of the;` arrow A. The netv result is. that the: ring gear 22. will move the resultant of. these two movements which. is one.; revolution4 in the direction` ofy the. arrow A minus` 625/624. revolutions, which gives af net resultolf 1ghrevolution.in.the.- direction of the arrow B. The;gear reduction, ther.eiore,.is 1

150624., withA the; driven shaft M. rotatingA in theV direction opposite to. the'v motor shaftl lf3.

It will be observed. that this reduction has;been. accomplishedthrough: the use. of.v the eccentrics. ratherr than through the use of.- attached arms and-.the addition off sun gears.

When the switch- 385 isr displaced to.,` open the.: motor-coil, the magnetic. coilis released and the.y

rotationat.y a.relatively slow. rateI of. speed.. *.The.'

ned bythe valve', ay release would be effected to have the valve close under the spring action,

u after-which -a subsequent operation in the same direction` of the motor would. reopen it.

Likewiseit is. desirable.. lout.Y not. essential, to have the` magnetic. clutch coilsa energized` upon` energization of. thefmotor.- However, the.. motor. may be independently operatecL. aston instance, for constant operation, withv the. clutchinterrnittently operated by some separate, control.

What is claimed is V 1. In a. mechanism of the. kind described.. a

drive. shaft,.meansfor driving theI shaft, a driven shaft, a.l gear reduction means, including`l ak reduced speed. gear rotated* by. the driving, shaft at aspeed. below that oitA the.v driving, means,.and a gear adapted to. be caused toimesh. with the reduced speed gear,V and connected. with. the4 driven shaft, and, magnetic y meansadapted to. be

energized with energization of thedriving. means to cause the driven shaftgear. tomesl'rwith` the reduced speed gear on the drivingshaft.l

2. Ina mechanism. of. the'kind. described,` an.

electric motor having, an. operating1 winding, a

speed below thatof. the motor, a.driven,shaf.t,. a`

gear connected with the driven shaft. and adapted.

' to loe. meshed with said reduced speed. gear a magnetic coil in series Wit-h the motorA operating winding, a magnetic meanscooperable. therewithl to bring the driven shaft gearL into.y meshV with the reducedf speed. gear whenever theA motor winding and the magneticA coilareenergized..

3. Ina mechanism ofthe kind described, abase,. a driving shaft mounted onthebase, a. pairof planetary gears.rotatable.tog ether,.means onv the.

base andthe driven shaft. energizable. to overcome said separatingv means-.andtofcause the ring. gear on the drivenshaft: tameshI with-.said.plane f( tary gears.

4. In a mechanism. of. the: kindVV described;v a

base, a driving shaft thereon.. a. circular eccen tric. mounted for rotation with the.driving shaft, a planetary gear meansmountedior rotationom the circular eccentric about the-.center thereof andv by the eccentricabouttthe drvemshaftgaxis, a first ring gear fixedto. the, basatand engage:-4 able with the'; planetarys gear. means: to. determine^- the. rotationk thereof.' uponrotation ofthe driving, shaft, a driven gear means also engageablay with-y the planetary gear means for rotation thereabout, magnetic elements, one of which is a. magnetic coil, one of said elements being secured to the base, and the other being secured to the driven gear to displace the same in one direction relative to the planetary gear means, and additional means to displace the driven gear relative to the planetary gear means in the other direction, whereby the driven shaft may be engaged or disengaged from the driving shaft.

5. In a mechanism of the kind described, a motor having a forward and a reverse winding, a magnetic coil in series with said motor, a control switch movable to select either of said motor windings for energization, said magnetic coil being energized when either of said windings is energized, a drive shaft operated by the motor, a driven shaft, magnetic elements, one connected to the motor and one connected to the driven shaft, and one being said magnetic coil, and gear means adapted to be meshed to connect the driving shaft with the driven shaft, said gear means including the driven gear connected with the driven shaft and also connected with the magnetic element of the driven shaft, whereby when said magnetic coil is energized, the said magnetic elements will be mutually attracted and the driven gear will be meshed to eiect driving of the driven shaft by the driving shaft.

6. In a mechanism of the kind described, a driving shaft, electrical means for driving the shaft, a driven shaft separate from the driving shaft but coaxial therewith, gear reduction mechanism including a reduced speed gear, and means operated from the driving shaft to operate the reduced speed gear when the driving shaft is operated, but; at a slower speed, a driven gear connected with thel driven shaft whereby rotation of the driven gear effects rotation of the driven shaft, said gears being relatively displaceable by movement of one of them into and out of mesh with the other, electro-magnetic means for effecting said displacement, and means connecting the electro-magnetic means and the electrical driving means for energization together, whereby when the driving means is started, the shafts will be engaged through the gearing.

A EDWARD G. MILLER. E. ENGBERG. 

